All vehicles have gears that enable them to go faster, slower, or maintain speed. The gears undergo a lot of wear and tear, so they need occasional maintenance and sometimes repairs to stay in good condition. Unfortunately, it's easy to forget about the transmission until something goes wrong. Here are a few signs that indicate yours needs servicing.

Did You Have a Fluid Change?

All transmissions have fluid that lubricates the gears and other internal parts to reduce friction, heat, and damage. According to Kelley Blue Book, transmission fluid must be changed every 50,000 to 60,000 miles to ensure good protection for the gears and other parts inside the gearbox. If you don't know when you last changed the fluid in your gearbox, it's probably overdue and should be changed as soon as possible.

Are Your Gears Slipping While Underway?

One of the most obvious signs that a gearbox needs work is when its gears slip while shifting. When the gears are in good condition, they engage properly and deliver smooth power to the drive wheels. When the gears are worn and damaged, they could slip while changing gears or when maintaining speed. The more the gears slip, the worse the condition gets until fixed. If you ignore the problem, the gearbox will eventually stop shifting altogether.

Does Your Car Make Grinding Noises?

The gearbox should enable your car to drive relatively silently. As the gears wear and the gearbox degrades, the metal parts might start rubbing and grinding on each other. When that happens, the gearbox can make loud and unpleasant grinding sounds while you are driving. The faster you go, the louder the grinding noise can get until the gearbox fails. If allowed to get to this point, it will likely need replacing.

Does the Engine Rev While Losing Power?

The engine should maintain good power to the drive wheels while you are on the road. If the gearbox is defective, you might notice the engine revving at higher RPMs while you're trying to maintain a steady speed. The revving sound is due to the gearbox slipping out of gear, which causes the engine to rev at higher RPMs because of the lack of resistance.

Is your car's transmission giving you trouble? You can call or visit our automotive facility to have your transmission diagnosed and maintained or fixed as needed. Contact RJ Auto today!